Trauma and Regulation in Turbulent Times

What we are experiencing right now—as a country, as communities, and as individuals—is not normal. And your body knows it. In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie Mathews speaks directly to the collective nervous system response many of us are feeling but struggling to name. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, angry, numb, tearful, or constantly on edge, this conversation offers language, validation, and practical support grounded in trauma-informed neuroscience. We explore what trauma researchers call Continuous Traumatic Stress—a state where the nervous system never gets a chance to complete the stress cycle because threat keeps coming. Leslie also names and explains moral injury, vicarious trauma, and anticipatory trauma, helping listeners understand why so many people feel exhausted, divided, and disconnected right now. This episode is not about politics or sides. It’s about what prolonged stress does to the human nervous system—and how trauma responses like fight, flight, freeze, and fawn can quietly fracture relationships, communities, and our ability to see one another clearly. You’ll learn: Why what you’re feeling is a normal human response to ongoing threat How continuous traumatic stress differs from PTSD What moral injury feels like in the body Why trauma increases division—even among people who care deeply How helplessness forms when systems themselves cause harm Trauma-informed tools to support nervous system regulation right now Leslie also offers practical regulation strategies, including: Pendulation and healthy boundaries with news and media Somatic release to complete the stress cycle Co-regulation and the power of presence Grounding practices for moments of overwhelm Finding small, aligned actions that restore agency This episode is a space to pause, breathe, and remember that your nervous system is not broken—it is trying to protect you. Healing and resilience don’t come from bypassing what’s happening, but from staying regulated enough to remain connected, compassionate, and human. If you’ve been feeling like something is deeply off, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it. Keywords / SEO tags: nervous system regulation, collective trauma, continuous traumatic stress, moral injury explained, vicarious trauma, anticipatory trauma, trauma informed podcast, mindfulness and trauma, somatic regulation, trauma and the nervous system, grounding techniques, emotional regulation, stress cycle, co regulation, healing during uncertain times Connect with Leslie & The LooM: 🌿 Website: https://www.theloomlife.com 🎙️ Podcast: Pulling Threads 📸 Instagram (Coaching & Content): @the.loom.life 🧠 Instagram (Therapy): @loomlifetherapy 🎥 YouTube: Pulling Threads 🎵 TikTok: @parandpeace If this episode supported you, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who might need it. Gentle conversations create ripples—and we move through this together.